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By DANIEL LOCKE | Staff Writer

CALERA – Waterford Homeowner’s Association President Terrell Lykes hosted a public forum for candidates running for City Council and mayor in Calera at the Waterford Clubhouse on Tuesday, June 10 at 7 p.m.

Every candidate running was invited to speak. Two City Council candidates, Kay Snowden Turner and Alan Watts were not present. Both are currently on the council. Sitting Council Member Kenny Dale Cost was the only mayoral candidate not present.

The order in which the candidates spoke was determined by drawing names out of a hat. The eight City Council candidates went first, followed by the two mayoral candidates.

City Council candidates

Brad Peeks is running with the goal of aiding Calera’s growth. He shared with attendees how was seeing the overcrowding present in Calera’s school’s firsthand as a parent. He also spoke on bringing new businesses to the city.

“Calera is growing fast, real fast,” Peeks said. “That’s a good thing, but it has to be smart growth that protects our schools, keeps our streets safe and supports our local families.”

A concern surrounding Peeks’ candidacy is that he is currently zoned as living outside the city limits, a matter he is working to resolve.

Debbie Byers, a sitting council member who was appointed to the council two years ago, explained to the voters how she plans to take care of Calera’s police and fire departments.

“We need to make our pay competitive so we can keep them here,” Byers said. “We don’t want to be without police, and we don’t want to be without fire.”

Byers also mentioned a desire to revitalize Calera’s downtown area and improve the city’s relationship with the Shelby County Schools Board of Education.

Calvin Morgan, another sitting council member, also spoke on bringing business to Calera, highlighting an important relationship the city needs to develop in the process.

“We need to build a better relationship with Eddie Lumpkin,” Morgan said. “When you have an individual who owns as much property as he does in your city—in the prime area of your city—why not build a good relationship with them in order to get some things developed there”?

Morgan also advocated for the hiring of a city manager.

Chris Bunn, a former council member, serves as the vice chair of the water board. Improving traffic within the city is one of his primary objectives.

“Our county and state roads are jammed with traffic, as you all know,” Bunn said. “We need to collaborate with our county and state officials to find solutions instead of excuses.

Bunn also would like to help bring new businesses to Calera and supports the creation of a position for someone to recruit companies to the city as well as speak to the state and county about the condition of the roads.

Ernest Montgomery, a sitting council member, emphasized the importance of keeping Calera’s tax base at home to the audience.

“When you lose your tax base, you can’t have all that you want with your schools or with your parks or with your first responders,” Montgomery said.

Montgomery also highlighted the importance of maintaining as much transparency between the government and residents of Calera as possible.

City Council candidate David Morgan addressed Calera’s growth, explaining the need for new infrastructure.

“It takes a certain amount of resources to live and survive,” Morgan said. “You’ve got to have the transportation, you’ve got to have the extra power.”

Morgan also advocated for increasing the pay of the community’s first responders.

Henry Davis, the youngest candidate at 29 years old, would aim to improve the relationships between different groups in the city.

“I want to run because I want to bridge the gap between the local government, the communities and the schools,” Davis said.

Davis also voiced his plan to be a voice for the younger residents of Calera.

Drew Bradshaw believes his status as a parent of a current student in Calera City Schools will make him an appealing candidate.

“That’s something I think this council needs, someone young that has kids in schools, that lives in the same neighborhoods that you do.”

Bradshaw also emphasized the importance of making Calera an attractive place for businesses to come.

Mayoral candidates

As a candidate for mayor of the city of Calera, Heather Edwards is running as a concerned citizen and mom. She expressed a desire to improve the city’s relationship with the Shelby County Schools Board of Education. Taking care of first responders would also be a priority for Edwards.

“Number one would be getting our first responders an increase in pay,” Edwards said.

Incumbent Mayor Jon Graham was the last candidate to speak. Graham spoke on his experience, walking voters through his management of Calera’s financial crisis when first elected in 2008.

Making smart financial decisions is crucial to the city’s future development, according to Graham.

“We’ve got to plan and we’ve got to have a real vision about where we want to go. We’ve got to go back and look in our pockets and make sure that we can afford it,” Graham said. “I’ve always operated with a balanced budget.”

The Municipal Election is set for Tuesday, Aug. 26.